MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his South African counterpart Maite Nkoana-Mashabane agreed on the need for the development and promotion of joint Russian-South African economic projects on the African continent, Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday following the Moscow meeting between the two ministers.
“Discussions during the conversation [between Lavrov and Nkoana-Mashabane] included the state and perspectives for cooperation between Russia and South Africa… The ministers expressed support for the continuation of active of efforts by Moscow and Pretoria aimed at building mutually beneficial ties in trade, economy, mining, power, culture and other spheres,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the two ministers also agreed on the need for the development and promotion of joint economic projects by Moscow and Pretoria in Africa.
On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with the head of South Africa, as well as with leaders of Egypt, Vietnam, India and the Czech Republic.